Hamilton maintains that his transition to Ferrari hasn't deteriorated despite verbal disputes during the Miami Grand Prix events.
Rewritten Article:
Lewis Hamilton maintains there's no beef with Ferrari or teammate Charles Leclerc, but he ain't apologizing for the heated exchanges during a frustrating Miami Grand Prix. The seven-time Formula 1 champ barked at the race crew on the radio while waiting for them to order Leclerc to let him pass, and again when he was told to cede the position.
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur wasn't too thrilled, seeking Hamilton post-race. But the Briton downplayed the spat, attributing it to "my fierce competitive spirit."
"Fred came to my room, and I just patted him on the shoulder, saying 'Chill, bro! Lighten up!,'" he said after placing eighth in Miami.
"I could've said a bunch of nastier things on the radio. You'd be surprised at the things some people say.
"Some of it was sarcasm, and you've got to understand we're under immense pressure in the cars. You're never gonna hear the nicest messages during a fierce battle.
"It's all cool. I got no issues with either the team or Charles."
Hamilton, who's yet to finish better than fifth since his high-profile move to Ferrari, trails teenage teammate Kimi Antonelli in the standings. He was closing in on Antonelli when he felt bottled up by the slower Leclerc, and aired his displeasure over the delay in team orders, saying, "Take a tea break while you're at it."
After failing to catch Antonelli, he was asked to let Leclerc past. Soon enough, Williams' Carlos Sainz was tailing him. "You wanna let him past too?" Hamilton asked sarcastically.
Hamilton explained later, "I thought the decision took too long. Of course, in that time, you're like 'Come on!' It was all family-friendly, mate.
"I don't know what you're gonna write, whether I was disrespectful or whatever. But honestly, I don't think I was. I was just like 'Come on guys, I wanna win.' I've still got that fire in my belly.
"And I'm not gonna apologize for being a fighter. I'm not gonna apologize for still wanting it. And I know everyone on the team does, too."
McLaren's Oscar Piastri secured his fourth win from six races this season, tightening his grip at the top of the F1 drivers' championship. Teammate Lando Norris came in second, followed by fellow Brit George Russell of Mercedes, with reigning champion Max Verstappen fourth.
This season, Ferrari's been struggling to keep up with the pace of top teams, such as Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes, and Williams. Hamilton expressed optimism about Ferrari's potential but admitted that something's preventing them from reaching their true potential, particularly since the Chinese Grand Prix.
- Lewis Hamilton shared a light-hearted moment with Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur, assuring him to lighten up and chill after their post-race conversation, reflecting the competitive tension during the Miami Grand Prix.
- Hamilton, currently trailing teammate Kimi Antonelli in the standings, had his frustration escalate when he felt held back by Charles Leclerc during the race, overall expressing his need to win and maintain his fighting spirit without apologizing for it.
- While Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari have been underperforming this season, McLaren's Oscar Piastri has been thriving, securing four wins from six races, further tightening his hold on the Formula 1 drivers' championship. This season's outcomes indicate a noticeable gap in performance between Ferrari and top teams like Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes, and Williams.
